I saw the movie first, which I totally loved, but I am glad I decided to read the book as well. Actually, the credit goes to the Book Riot Challenge which required me to both read a book and watch the adapted movie.

The story is about a Muslim Indian boy who immigrates with his family to France, and from there goes on to be Michelin starred chef in French cuisine. As the New York Times review calls it, a Slumdog Millionaire meets Ratatouille story.

There are some segments and details that the movie changed, but understandably so. The protest of VAT, the employee scam under union protection, these are facts that makes the life of a restauranteur realistic, and no doubt is part of the reason Anthony Bourdain praises this book so highly. However, these are stuff people may not even care to watch on the news, much less in a movie theatre. Movie goers also like romance, reconciliation and happy ending, which the movie delivers satisfactorily.

I also remember vividly how the movie opens with little Hassen in the Indian market, capturing all the colors, delicacies, noises and chaos perfectly, more successfully than the book. In the book, my favorite scene is at the farewell banquet, when Hassen realizes how much his friend loves him, and the banquet is not for his friend, but for Hassen, to anoint him as the new guardian of classic French cuisine.

A great read indeed. And I'd recommend both the book and movie.

I haven't actually read the book, but I watched the movie. Very entertaining and heart warming, a lovely story.

I think this is the perfect book to offer in the BC Con in Bordeaux!